This is how I thought my appointment with the surgeon would go:
Me: Hi, I'm Lynda. Here's my stuff (present him with all of my documentation for insurance requirements, etc.).
Dr.: Wow! You're really prepared. I see that you've completed all your insurance requirements and have even already had your psych evaluation--which you passed with flying colors! We have everything we need to get started. We'll send all this in to your insurance company for approval. In the meantime, let's get some preliminary tests scheduled, plan your nutritional consultation and set a date for surgery.
Me: Great! I'm ready.
This is how it really went:
Dr: Hi, I'm Dr. Lin (exchange pleasantries, etc.). So, tell me why you're here.
Me: I'm here to get the lap band.
Dr: Ah, I see. And, tell me why you've chosen the lap-band.
Me: It seems much less invasive, has a much shorter recovery time, and I like that it is 100% reversible.
Dr: Well, let's go over all the options (pulls out chart showing brief info about lap band, sleeve & bypass and gives explanation of each with pros & cons). Any questions?
Husband: Nope. They told us all of that at the seminar.
Me: He's right. Nothing we didn't already know. While I was doing the physician supervised diet required by my insurance company I spent a lot of time researching, so I feel pretty secure in my knowledge of the different procedures.
Dr: Great! You've already been to the seminar and started your diet. When do you finish with the doctor supervised diet.
Me: Two weeks ago.
Dr: (shocked) You've already finished?!?!
Me: Yes. I tried to make an appointment with you earlier, but your office wouldn't book the appointment until I had already finished the insurance diet.
Dr: Oh.
Dr: So, my secretary will be in here shortly to talk to you about sending in your paperwork & documentation:
Me: I brought all of it with me. It's in that green folder over there.
Dr: So, you're ready to have surgery tomorrow, eh?
Me: Absolutely!
Dr: Well, we can't really do it tomorrow, but we should be able to get it done within the next couple of months.
Me: (feels like I just got kicked in the gut by a Clydesdale--tears welling up in my eyes) Two months? But, I've already waited 3 1/2 months! Now I have to wait two more months?
Anyway--you get the picture. I thought that the end of the 3-month diet was the end of the crap and that this appointment would be the beginning of actually GETTING. STUFF. DONE. Apparently, it was just the beginning of another bunch of crap.
Before I get to even talk about scheduling a surgery date, I have to fax my documents to the bariatric call center and Dr. Lin's secretary will fax her documents to the bariatric call center. Then, they will fax the documents to the pre-certification department who will fax the documents to the insurance company. And we wait. AFTER I get approved, THEN they will schedule pre-op testing, nutritional counseling, & surgery. They said "Don't worry. I'm sure we'll get your surgery done in June." JUNE?!?!?! WTF?!??!?!
10 comments:
that is very much so crap. i can understand your frustration. i hope your surgery is before when they are thinking.
Apparently, my surgeon's office has never heard of MULTI-TASKING. Dr. Lin is lucky that he is one of the best bariatric surgeon's in the SouthEast--and, that despite everything, I actually like him. I just don't like all the crap.
That stinks! I'm sorry it's taking so long. I had to wait 7 months and it was torture. I can relate.
Hang in there - at least you are one step closer now.
I'm sorry too. I think they do that on purpose to weed out the people who aren't really serious, it almost worked with me.
Hang in there.
Ugh! I'm so sorry you have to go through all this! Docs and insurance companies suck!
Yes, it can be very tiresome to have to continue to jump through hoops! And I agree with Tess, sometimes I think they do this to weed out the ones that may not be totally ready to do whatever is necessary.
Hopefully, they will get the paperwork to your Insurance Co fast, so the approval can happen soon.
Usually once the approval is given, they can actually set the Surgery date knowing they have to have the pre-op testing done.
They know how long it takes to get the tests and results back. So try not to worry too much, you should at least have your date once approval is given.
I'm so sorry. Insurance companies suck, but I can't believe you can't start the preliminary stuff with the surgeon's office. Hang in there!
You'll get there. It just seems so far away, but the time will go so fast. Good luck that it moves along.
It will go by fast, it just sucks that you were expecting it to move a lot faster. Remember you do want the insurance to pay for so just play the game.
I am so sorry for you and don't even begin to understand all the US requirements....hang int here
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